NC State signee Will Wilson named South Carolina’s Mr. Football for 2024

Growing up, Will Wilson had his sights set on becoming an SC Mr. Football winner during his high school career.

On Saturday, that dream turned into a reality as the Richland Northeast quarterback and NC State signee was named the 2024 winner of SC Mr. Football.

The award was announced during halftime of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives North-South all-star game at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach.

“It means everything,” Wilson said of the award. “Growing up and watching everyone come through and watching guys like Dakereon Joyner and Luke Doty win the award. So this means everything. It is a true testament to my work and the work I put in. It means the world and it is pretty great.”

Wilson is the 11th quarterback to win the award but the first since Doty, who played at Myrtle Beach and then at South Carolina, in 2019. He is the sixth player from the Columbia area to win the honor, which has been handed out since 1995 to the state’s top senior football player for his performance on and off the field.

Wilson joins Camden’s Eric McCollum (2002), Blythewood’s Richard Mounce (2007), Lexington’s Shaq Roland (2011), Dutch Fork’s Matt Colburn (2014) and Camden’s Xzavier McLeod (2022) as previous local winners of the award.

Wilson was one of five finalists for the award, with the others being Westside quarterback Cutter Woods, Rock Hill receiver Malik Clark, Belton-Honea Path running back Marquise Henderson and Gaffney offensive lineman Shed Sarratt. Woods, Clark and Surratt are signed with South Carolina; Henderson is headed to Clemson. Woods, Clark and Henderson are already on campus practicing with their college teams and passed on playing in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Wilson also passed on playing in the Shrine Bowl and spent this week practicing at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack plays East Carolina in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28.

“It is good to go in there and have these practices so going out in the spring is not the first time on the practice field and everything,” Wilson said. “It is a great head start I get. And it is time. I’m ready to get after it and start the journey over.”

Wilson completed 66.7% of his passes this season and threw for 2,482 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,144 yards and 20 touchdowns despite missing two games after having his knee scoped in the middle of the season.

For his career, Wilson finished with 11,080 all-purpose yards and 119 total touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1 Wilson played a key role in turning around the Richland Northeast football program. Before Will and his father, Walt (RNE head coach), arrived, the Cavaliers had back-to-back winless seasons.

But RNE won seven games in 2023 and finished 8-4 this year and advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. The 15 victories were the most in a two-year stretch since 2010-11.

“Being coached by dad has been pretty awesome,” Wilson said. “There was a lot of yelling but it has prepared me to be a better man and player and got me ready for school.

“… I tried to cherish every moment in high school. A lot of people in the community were lacking hope (in the program) and now Cavalier pride is back. And I am grateful I can have a big impact on the community.”

S.C. Mr. Football recipients

Year, Name, Position, School, College

1995 — Jermale Kelley, WR, Berea, South Carolina

1996 — Kyle Young, OL, Daniel, Clemson

1997 — Chris Hope, DB, Rock Hill, Florida State

1998 — Derek Watson, RB, Palmetto, South Carolina

1999 — Mark Logan, QB, Greenwood, Georgia Tech

2000 — Roscoe Crosby, WR, Union, Clemson

2001 — Moe Thompson, DE, Stratford, South Carolina

2002 — Eric McCollom, QB, Camden, Iowa

2003 — Trey Elder, QB, Byrnes, Appalachian State

2004 — J.D. Melton, QB, Myrtle Beach, Navy

2005 — Prince Miller, DB, Byrnes, Georgia

2006 — Malcolm Long, QB, Gaffney, South Carolina State

2007 — Richard Mounce, QB, Blythewood, Charleston Southern

2008 — Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Pointe, South Carolina

2009 — Marcus Lattimore, RB, Byrnes, South Carolina

2010 — Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Pointe, South Carolina

2011 — Shaq Roland, WR, Lexington, South Carolina

2012 — Tramel Terry, WR, Goose Creek, Georgia

2013 — Jacob Park, QB, Stratford, Georgia

2014 — Matthew Colburn, RB, Dutch Fork, Wake Forest

2015 — Tavien Feaster, RB, Spartanburg, Clemson

2016 — Gage Moloney, QB, Northwestern, James Madison

2017 — Dakereon Joyner, QB, Fort Dorchester, South Carolina

2018 — Zacch Pickens, DE, T.L. Hanna, South Carolina

2019 — Luke Doty, QB, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

2020 — Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT, Gaffney, Georgia

2021 — Jaylen Sneed, LB, Hilton Head Island, Notre Dame

2022 — Xzavier McLeod, DL, Camden, South Carolina

2023 — Josiah Thomson, OL, Dillon, South Carolina

2024 — Will Wilson, QB, Richland Northeast, NC State